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Pioneers of Our Early Rituals

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Pioneers of Our Early Rituals Pioneers of Our Early Rituals April 14, 2012 Mack Sigmon Junior Grand Steward, Catawba Lodge No. 248 Secretary - Board of Custodians Wilkerson College Lodge Pioneers of Our Early Rituals M . .. W . .. Thomas Smith Webb William Preston Presented by: W . .. Mack Sigmon M . .. W . .. Levi L. Stevenson Charles F. Bahnson Wilkerson College Lodge Pioneers of Our Early Rituals Agenda What is a degree? How our ritual evolved William Preston Thomas Smith Webb Levi L. Stevenson and Charles F. Bahnson History of the NC coded ritual Summary Wilkerson College Lodge What is a degree? References to the three grades, apprentice, fellow and master in the mason trade have been identified as early as 1390 maybe even 100 years earlier. Grades are not to be confused with degrees. Best know is the Regius Poem or Manuscript which is the oldest of the Gothic Constitutions (extending from 1150 to 1550). Also known as the Halliwell MS dated approximately 1390. This MS contains 15 articles for the Master and 15 points for the craftsman. It was cataloged in the British Museum as Poems of Moral Duties. Dr. Brantley, Grand Historian, mentions this document in his presentation of the early beginnings in Freemasonry. Many of the articles and points referenced in this MS can be tied to lessons taught in our three catechisms. By a degree in Freemasonry we mean some esoteric (non-monitorial, non-written) ceremony, no matter how brief, which advances the member or candidate to a higher rank, including the communication to him of particular distinguishing words, signs, grips, tokens or other esoteric matter. To be considered a degree it must represent different accomplishments of symbolic masonry. Modern Masonic usage of the word degrees relates to ceremonies of admission or advancement in the craft. Wilkerson College Lodge How degrees evolved… Masonic trade organizations date back to 1356 in London with records indicating a receiving of a Grant of Arms in 1472 References made in the early 1500’s of a two degree system coming into practice. Lodge minutes from Scotland in 1599 confirmed two classes, 1st –EA, 2nd FC 1696 yielded the first set of three texts describing a ritual with all indicating the second and highest degree in Scottish lodges was for the Master/Fellow Craft (within lodges considered equal, outside of lodges considered same as employer/employee) 1696-1714… it was confirmed that the 2nd degree consisted of an oath, obligation, undescribed signs, five points of FS accompanied by unspecified word. It was also proved during this same period that the 3rd degree derived from certain parts of previous 2nd degree. Some of these documents in conjunction with later texts proved the three degree system was formulated by splitting the original 1st degree in order to form the 1st and 2nd degree. The original 2nd degree became the new 3rd degree. No suggestion of actual degrees were found prior to 1717, prior references indicated people being made masons, however in 1711 a Manuscript from Trinity College - Dublin was referenced a brief catechism that implied three degrees 1717… the Premier Grand Lodge of England was formed, two degrees only 1723… the First Constitutions were issued with general regulations – it confirmed that 2nd degree or senior degree was the Master/FC. Also described both biblically and masonically by Dr. Anderson in the constitutions of 1723 was the Hiram legend. Wilkerson College Lodge How degrees evolved… 1723 … the first printed exposure was published in a London newspaper that also implied three degrees entitled “A Mason’s Examination” 1725… the earliest record of a third degree did not come from a lodge but from the minutes of a London Musical Society of gentlemen founded in February 1725 by eight freemasons. All members of this society had to be freemasons. This society dissolved in 1727 1725… publication “The Whole Institution of Freemasonry Opened” was one of the first evidences of the Hiram legend 1726… a book became available for sale entitled “The Whole History of the Widows Son Killed by the Blow of a Beetle”. Also in 1726 the Graham MS referenced the story of Noah’s sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth and the story of a raising in detail. Considered by some as the earliest description and possible beginning of the Hiram legend as we know it today. This MS was also considered to be one of the earliest Masonic catechisms. 1726… One of the earliest lodge records of a third degree was Dumbarton Kilwinning Lodge No 18 in Scotland which was recorded in their minutes of January 29, 1726 1730… Bible first mentioned as part of lodge furniture. Also Samuel Prichard’s “Masonry Dissected” was published and from that point Hiram legend became widely known but adoption by lodges was slow. This publication also gets credit for the first evidence of a three degree system 1745… A three degree system was in place but not considered an effective ritual Wilkerson College Lodge How degrees evolved… 1765… William Preston began his personal research and correspondence with Freemasons at home and abroad to learn all he could about Freemasonry 1769… revisions to the rituals began by Rev. Wellins Calcutt and William Hutchenson of England 1772… William Preston completed his rewrite of the three degrees in two years from its inception, however, his work was considered too long by most 1797… Thomas Smith Webb published his first “The Freemason’s Monitor or Illustrations of Freemasonry” 1813… The Ancient and Moderns combined Grand Lodges in England 1825… First post union of the two Grand Lodges ritual became available in print entitled “An Exposure of Freemasonry” written by Richard Carlile, July 8, 1825 1831… Richard Carlile published “The Manual of Freemasonry”, republished in 1836 and 1843 1838… George Claret published what was considered the first respectable ritual but without official approval 1843… Webb monitor adopted by the Baltimore Convention as an attempt to gain a uniform ritual in the US Wilkerson College Lodge William Preston Born in Edinburg, Scotland in 1742…Died at the age of 76 in 1818 His father was well educated and as such William Preston began his studies early. He entered high school before age six. As such he possessed an unquenchable desire for knowledge Repaired to London in 1760 after working for Thomas Ruddiman where he worked as a printer and served as an editor for the London Chronicle for many years enhancing his writing skills Soon after his arrival in London a number of sojourning Brethren from Edinburg resolved to institute a Freemasons’ lodge. After being denied an application from the Grand Lodge of Scotland, they applied to the Ancient Grand Lodge of London. A Lodge was granted dispensation on March 2, 1763. It was constituted as Lodge No 111 on or about April 20, 1763. It was constituted a second time on November 15, 1764 taking the name Caledonian Lodge No. 325. It is still in existence today as Lodge No. 134 Appears he was initiated in London as the second person initiated under that dispensation but the exact date is not known. Was a frequent visitor to other lodges and became a member of the Grand Lodge of England serving on its Hall Committee. Later appointed Deputy Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge In 1774 he visited the Lodge of Antiquity No. 1 and on June 15, 1774 he was elected a member and Master at the same meeting. Wilkerson College Lodge William Preston The Modern Grand Lodge of England had forbidden lodges and members from appearing in public possessions in regalia. On December 17, 1777 the Lodge of Antiquity attended a church service on St. John’s Day a short distance from the lodge. Some members protested attending and as result only ten attended, these masons donning gloves and aprons in the church. After the service they decided to return to the lodge without removing their Masonic clothing. As Master, Preston was expelled from Masonry for these actions. A new Grand Lodge of England South of the River Trent was then formed. The controversy with the Grand Lodge of the Moderns was settled in 1787 and Preston was reinstated with all of his previous honors and dignities restored. Preston then organized the Order of Horidim, a Society of Masonic Scholars in which he taught his lectures and it was through this medium that his lectures came to America and became the foundation for our Monitors. He spent a lifetime of service to the craft devoted largely to the study and perfection of the rituals and Masonic lectures. He was an excellent ritualist and some of his work was the most beautiful ever created with one small problem. They were long! It was stated that the 12 parts of his third degree lecture took a half-day to recite. Credited more than any other person with the English language that exists in our ritual Wilkerson College Lodge William Preston Preston began his research in 1765. Completed his work in 1772 and published his first book entitled “Illustrations of Masonry”. At his own expense he employed lecturers to travel throughout the kingdom to place his lectures before the lodges. At his death on April 1, 1818 it was discovered that he left money with the stipulation that the interest from this fund be set aside for the delivery of the Preston lecturers of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd degrees once each year. The appointment of the Preston Lecturer was left to the Grand Master. These were abandoned in the 1860’s after being superseded by the lecturers of Hemming Grand Master of England in 1819 indicated that uniformity in ritual and lecturers was not desirable for masonry, but Preston’s lecturers were delivered from 1820-1862.
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